Governor Names Ally to Byrd Seat

West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin named a close political ally Friday to temporarily succeed the late Sen. Robert C. Byrd, clearing the way for Mr. Manchin to seek the seat in a special election.

Carte Goodwin, a 36-year-old Charleston attorney and Mr. Manchin's former general counsel, will hold the Senate seat until a special election expected in November. Mr. Manchin is likely to be a candidate in that race; Mr. Goodwin said he won't run. Both are Democrats.

State lawmakers were meeting Friday to set the process for the election. The term of Mr. Byrd, who died last month at age 92 after more than 50 years in the Senate, expires in 2012.

"I'm truly confident that Carte Goodwin will look out for West Virginia and will do us proud," said Mr. Manchin on Friday at the state capitol in Charleston. He praised Mr. Goodwin for helping draft state mine-safety laws in 2006 after several deadly coal-mining accidents.

Minutes after Mr. Goodwin is sworn in as a senator Tuesday, he "will make the 60th vote" needed to ensure passage of a bill to extend unemployment benefits, said Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D., W.Va.). The bill has been stalled since Mr. Byrd's death. Republicans and one Democrat, Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson, have opposed the bill because it would add to the deficit.

An energy bill that could include a cap on carbon emissions from power plants could also come up in the Senate before the August recess. Mr. Goodwin said he wouldn't support such a proposal or broader climate-change legislation.

"They simply are not right for West Virginia," he said at the press conference. "I will not support any piece of legislation that threatens in any way West Virginia jobs or any West Virginia family."

Mr. Goodwin comes from a prominent and politically active family in the state. His late father was chairman of West Virginia University's board of governors. His wife, Rochelle, is state director for Mr. Rockefeller.

Mr. Goodwin was Mr. Manchin's general counsel from 2005-09.

State GOP leaders said Mr. Manchin's decision to tap someone from his inner circle showed why the state needed to hold the election quickly. The secretary of state initially said the election would have to wait until 2012, but the state attorney general said it could take place this year.

"It just further elucidates the need to have a real election to replace Sen. Byrd as expeditiously as possible," said Troy Berman, executive director of the state Republican Party.

Republicans say they won't cede the seat to Mr. Manchin. Rep. Shelley Moore Capito (R., W.Va.) is viewed as the strongest potential GOP candidate. A campaign spokesman said she wouldn't decide about running until election details were set.

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